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In a statement issued last Friday, the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum responded to a recent petition that said the museum's exhibit of the Enola Gay fails to address the "disturbing issues" raised by the use of the atomic bomb. The museum's statement includes the full text of the display label, and notes: "This type of label is precisely the same kind used for the other airplanes and spacecraft in the museum. Its intent is to tell visitors what the object is and the basic facts concerning its history ... allowing visitors to evaluate what they encounter in the context of their own points of view." A spokesman for Peace Action said his group would prepare a response to the NASM statement, but it had not arrived at AVweb by press time. The NASM statement continues: "The exhibit plan at the Udvar-Hazy Center, including the Enola Gay label and text in its section, does not glorify or vilify the role this aircraft played in history. We invite the public to come and see the exhibition and share their impressions with us." The exhibit, in the new Udvar-Hazy Center near Dulles Airport in Virginia, opens to the public on Dec. 15.

Question of the Week

Picture of the Week

As aviation photos go, this was the best this week but there are some great beauty shots when you click through. In the meantime, congratulations to Daniel Gillette for this very nice photo he calls Sunset Pitch-Out. The photo is copyrighted by Gillette.